Immigration Minister Erica Standford has said that New Zealand will tighten visa requirements for some migrants in an effort to decrease total immigration. The island nation has seen unmanageable levels of migration in recent years.
Reports show there is now an English language requirement, and low-skilled candidates are now only granted a three-year stay.
According to Stanford, the government’s strategy to revive the economy hinges on achieving the correct immigration parameters.
Last year, New Zealand welcomed an almost record-breaking 173,000 migrants. As a result of the new regulations, most work visas now have more stringent criteria for applicants’ abilities and work experience.
Welders and fitters were among eleven positions that would be added to the list of those eligible for the fast track to residence, but that proposal was also scrapped.
Before offering a job to a non-New Zealander, employers must verify that the candidate meets all qualifications and that no other qualified New Zealander has applied for the position.
With a population of 5.3 million, New Zealand has seen an influx of migrants from late 2022.
Concerned about the country’s high net migration rates, New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon, said that the immigration system had been blocked during the epidemic and reopened by Labour when the economy was slowing down.
Newcomers may drive up housing costs even further, according to some politicians.
According to the Employers and Manufacturers Association, the new visa regulations may have unforeseen effects. If motivated workers find it more difficult to enter New Zealand, they may decide to leave instead, which would be bad for companies and the economy.
People from New Zealand have been leaving the nation in droves, most notably for Australia, which is far wealthier. A total of 47,000 people left New Zealand last year.
Deciding to cut its migration intake in half, Australia has tightened visa requirements for foreign students and low-skilled workers, mirroring the trend observed in other countries experiencing an influx of immigration. The housing shortage and infrastructural problems in Australia have pressured the government to decrease migration.
